What is chronic back pain?

“Back pain” can be much more painful when it is chronic. Chronic back pain affects millions of people in the United States, and it seems to be a constant number from year to year. When there is no biological reason for the pain to persist, it can be characterized as chronic. An example of this would be your hand on a hot iron. When you feel the pain of heat, it's because your brain is telling you that if you leave your hand there, it will burn you. Chronic pain occurs when there seems to be no reason for the pain, in the sense that doing something, like moving your hand, will prevent further injury to the body. Chronic pain is identified as pain that lasts more than three to six months after different therapies and medications have been used to treat the pain without long-term relief. When you know your back and how it works, addressing your symptoms to your doctor and knowing the source can be beneficial in relieving chronic back pain.

Understanding the Back

The human back is a complex organism made up of bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons, and interwoven with arteries, veins and capillaries in the heart and nerves originating in the spinal cord. The back is responsible for supporting us in all kinds of movements, from sports to dancing, and picking up objects from the floor to be able to sit on. Our backs twist, bend and bend, and because of this huge puzzle, there is a possibility of injury and damage at every point. With all of these seemingly complicated moves, you'd think doing them would be more risky than not doing them. Less. When your back isn't “doing the movements” and you are not exercising and stretching regularly, you are more likely to injure yourself when doing these movements. Often times, people are injured when they do what could be interpreted as harmless movement, such as stretching a bit, bending down to pick up something, or even sneezing. When the body enters into a movement that is unnatural or has not been repeated, it may react; just like you have muscle pain after doing a new type of exercise. As you can see, although very complex, your back needs to be fit, stretched and exercised regularly to overcome any sudden movements that could cause injury.

Areas and Types of Chronic Back Pain

Pain is the body's reaction to something that needs your brain's attention, not to get up or not to sit, stand or lie down in a particular position. It can be painful, throbbing, sharp, or dull. Pain may be felt in the cervical or neck region, in the mid-thoracic region of the back, or in the lumbar or lumbar region. Because the weight of the upper body rests on the lower back and is the area used for sitting and most push-ups, this is where most chronic back pain is found.

Causes of Chronic Back Pain

Chronic back pain can be caused by a number of factors, it affects patients differently and how it affects them can depend on their age. An older or younger person may experience an injury or a herniated disc, while degeneration of the bones in the spine caused by osteoarthritis or osteoporosis will usually not affect a person before the age of 60.

A back disc, the cushion that sits between the vertebrae, can move and shift and even burst, affecting the connecting nerves. This is a common phenomenon called a herniated disc or herniated disc. Although it does not cause pain in some patients, it can often be a serious handicap. Sometimes an injury that was caused many years ago, such as a fractured vertebra, can cause bones to slip and cause chronic back pain.

Osteoarthritis is the degeneration of cartilage and bone in the joints, and this deterioration of the spine can cause pain because the nerves in the joints are compressed.

How to Treat Chronic Back Pain

There are abundant resources for people with chronic back pain. National organizations like the American Chronic Pain Association host a website and offer support groups and materials, local hospitals and doctor's offices offer some of the same services. Consult with your doctor about exercises to stretch and move the affected area, and follow them regularly. A chart to document your progress in terms of time spent and pain reduction can also be helpful. There are other exercises and stretches in the form of yoga and Pilates, which strengthen the core and lower back. There are many medicines that will give you relief, and your doctor can recommend which one is best for you. Side effects and addiction are problems with prescribing pain relievers and should only be taken for as long as prescribed.

Potential Relief from Chronic Back Pain

Tackling chronic back pain is a personal problem, but if you want to seek relief, you can find it. In addition to medication, physical therapy, exercise, and even surgery are used. Spinal decompression is a method that relieves the back. Relaxation, stretching, focusing on skills rather than pain, and basically not dwelling on pain are factors to consider with chronic back pain.